A suburban Detroit pediatrician has refused to continue to treat the baby of a lesbian couple after “much prayer” following an initial prenatal appointment.

Last September when the expectant mothers first met Dr. Vesna Roi at Eastlake Pediatrics in Roseville. She was recommended by their midwife. “We were really happy with her,” Krista said. “The kind of care she offered, we liked her personality, she seemed pretty friendly. She seemed pretty straight up with us.” The Contrerasas were told to make an appointment with Roi once Bay arrived. The baby was born at home and when she was six days old – they went in. But instead of seeing Dr. Roi, another doctor greeted them.

“The first thing Dr. Karam said was ‘I’ll be your doctor, I’ll be seeing you today because Dr. Roi decided this morning that she prayed on it and she won’t be able to care for Bay,” Jami said. “Dr. Karam told us she didn’t even come to the office that morning because she didn’t want to see us.” The new mothers were shocked, hurt and angry. “It was embarrassing, it was humiliating and here we are, new parents trying to protect her,” Jami said. “And we know this happens in the world and we’re completely prepared for this to happen other places. But not at our six-day-old’s wellness appointment.”

After the couple posted complaints on social media, the doctor sent them a letter. An excerpt: “After much prayer following your prenatal, I felt that i would not be able to develop the personal patient-doctor relationships that I normally do with my patients.” Michigan has no law banning discrimination against LGBT residents.